Share This Story!

Chelsea's struggles continue as Man United extends lead over City

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea's troubles deepened Saturday when Rafa Benitez's team lost 3-1 at West Ham in the Premier League. Manchester United extended its lead to three points. United twice came from behind to win

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea's troubles deepened Saturday when Rafa Benitez's team lost 3-1 at West Ham in the Premier League. Manchester United extended its lead to three points.

United twice came from behind to win 4-3 at Reading after Manchester City had drawn 1-1 at home to Everton.

Chelsea is 10 points behind United and the European champions are without a win in seven league matches, three since Benitez replaced the fired Roberto Di Matteo as manager.

Tottenham is now behind Chelsea on goal difference in fourth place after beating Fulham 3-0. Arsenal dropped to 10th after Michu's two goals gave Swansea a 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium.

For Tottenham, Clint Dempsey assisted on Jermaine Defoe's second goal, the final score in Spurs' 3-0 win. Dempsey was jeered repeatedly by Fulham fans in his first game at Craven Cottage since leaving Fulham in August for Tottenham.

Queens Park Rangers remains winless and last after being held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa. West Bromwich Albion dropped to fifth after being beaten 1-0 by Stoke. Liverpool defeated Southampton 1-0.

Liverpool's former manager, Benitez, is enduring a miserable return to the league he left in 2010 with the fans against him and the team not performing.

Chelsea took the lead in the 13th minute when Juan Mata scored his eighth goal of the season. The hosts fought back in the second half, with former Chelsea striker Carlton Cole tying the score in the 63rd minute after taking the place of the injured Andy Carroll.

Cole set up Mohamed Diame's decisive goal for West Ham in the 86th before being replaced by Modibo Maiga, who added a third goal in stoppage time.

"We could have finished the game in the first half, but it was totally different in the second half," Benitez said. "We didn't start well, they were on top of us and we couldn't manage ... we gave the ball away easily, weren't comfortable in possession."

Fans made their opposition to Benitez clear with "Rafa Out" banners and chants backing Di Matteo.

At Arsenal, manager Arsene Wenger also faced jeers from his fans and the team's title hopes faded further. This is Arsenal's worst start to a league season since Wenger arrived in 1996.

"It is a good moment to stick together," Wenger said. "I am not so much worried about (league) places, even if that is not the place you want to be. But I believe what is important is we get the quality of our game back. Then the places change."

American defender Zak Whitbread scored his first goal when he headed in a corner kick in the sixth minute of Leicester's 4-1 win over Derby.